Huntsville gazette., 1887-10-15
slower and more slowly with every

coming towards her, his silhouette
darkly outlined against the red bar Of
sunset that seemed to close up the
perspective at the other end of the
swampy road-coming at brisk run.
! She remembered the man with the
pipei the two half-grown lads who had
stopped to listen to Mrs. Falkner's
high-pitched words; she thought of the
solitary spot, and Of the money in her
pocket. and whipped up Old Billy, with
what energy she possessed. But to no
avail. That venerable steed stopped
short, bracing his four legs in four
different directions, and hanging his
head down in most discouraging
| fashion.
Bell had heard different members Of
the jenkins family allude to q char
acteristic possessed by Old Billy at in
convenient times and seasons, but, up
to this time, she never had known what
"balking" meant.
''He won't stir a step-the wretched
beastn' she gasped ''Well, if he don't,
| must. l won't stay here to be robbed
and murderedr'
She sprang lightly out of the wagon,
and with a scared glance behind her at
the pursuing figure, which was cer-
tainly gaining on her, fairly took to
her heels. The sound of a shout
reached her ears, but it had only the
effect of accelerating her footsteps.
"Stop, indeedr' she thought "As
if had any idea of stopping!'
Bell Barlow had not played number
less games of tennis and tournaments
of croquet for nothing. Swift and light
as Atlanta, she fled along, scarcely
pausing to look behind her., until, in
the dew and purple dusk, she bounded
under the monster lilac bushes that
kept guard on each side of Aunt Rhoda
Jenkins garden gate and darted into
the kitchen door.
'La metz said Aunt Rhoda, who,
with her one available wrist, was bak-
ing wheat cakes for supper, "this amt
never you. Miss Bell! What on earth
hev' We done with the horse?"
Here is the money!" cried Bell,
fiinging the distended leather bank
book on the table. Il left Billy and
the wagon in the swamp He-balked,
if that is what you call it, and wouldn't
come step farther. And there was a
horrible tramp chasing me, and, oh, ]
have run so fast! But the money il
safe. was too late for banking hours.
but have brought it to YOU"
'La-mer' said Aunt Rhoda.
At the same moment the clatter Of
wheels was heard at the side OF the
house. Aunt Rhoda stretched her lean
neck towards the window.
"Why, there's Billy now." said she,
"and Mr.. Kennedy drivin' him."
"And pretty chase I've had after
Miss Barlow" said the young clergy
man, entering the kitchen with laugh.
"She dropped out her samples of cn-
broidery silk and satin ribbon just
after she got into the Swamp Road.
and here I've followed her to the very
door before | could catch her. But
what made you run away from me,
Miss Barlow?"
"W-was it you?" faltered poor
Bell, feeling as if every drop of blood
in her body was turning TO fire. II
thought it was-robbers! And l had
Mrs. jenkins money in my charge,
and the road was so lonely, and"
..Do l look so much like desper-
ado?" said Mr. Kennedy, surveying
himself with an air of comical depre-
cation. ''And | shouted to you TO
wait, too"
"I'm very sorry" said Bell, hanging
down her head. ''It was very stupid
of me-"
"But you're not going to CRY, Miss
Barlow"
Nc said Bell, hystelically, ''but
I'm going to laugh, think"
81 wouldn't do neither one nor the
other" said Mrs. Jenkins. "rd jest
come in to supper. The tea is drawed,
and the cakes is baked, now, and
there's some proper good ounce sass
on the table
Both Mr.. Kennedy and Miss Barlow
took the old DANES good advice.
"And | do b'lieve," Aunt Rhoda said
afterwards. '.if it hadn't been for that
race through the Swamp Road, Mr..
Kennedy never would have been en-
gagged to my city boarder. For he
had an idea she was cold and naughty,
and she thought he didn't care nothing
about her. But somehow they got to
be first rate good friends arter that.
He'll get q real bright, stirring wife,
and if she was to hunt all through
Prospect County, she could get no
smarter man than Mr.. Kennedy"
And it was thus that Mrs. jenkins
gave in her adhesion to the popular be-
lief, "Whatever is, is right. - Anay
Randolph, tn ". ]. Ledger.
Royal Recreation.
King Otto of Bavaria, whose menta.
condition is really pitiable, has now